Improvement in needle-threaders



s i duurt MU-N.

OLIVER COX, OF ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA.

mattinata No. 86,647, (zaad February 9, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT 1N NEEDLE-THREADERS.

MNH-

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same,

To all whom it 'may concern Be it known that I, OLIVER Cox, of Alexandria Post Odiee, Alexandria county, State of Virginia, have invented an Improved Needle-Threader; and I do hereby declare'that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanyinw drawings, forming part of this specication, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of the improved neetlle-tlneader, with stiletto and emery-cushion combined therewith.

Figure 2 is a transverse section through the needletlu'eader.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section ofthe parts shown in I.

Figures 4, 5, and 6, are details composing the combined needle-threader, stiletto, and emery-cushion.

Figure 7 is au enlarged sectional view through the threading-hole or eye of the needle-threader.

The same letters of reference, in the several gures, indicate corresponding parts.

My present improvement relates especially to the magnetized needle-threader, patented to me on the 14th of June, 1864;' and The nature of the invention which I now presen consistsi First, in intersecting the threading-hole, or eye, ofthe needle-threader by a kerf or open slot, extending from the margin or outsidev edge of the grooved plate, and terminating in the threading-eye, or hole, thereof, whereby the thread, after being passed through the eye ofthe needle, can be passed-laterally through the slot, or kerf, from the threadingeye,instead of requiringto be drawn longitudinally through the said threading-hole, or eye, and whereby, also, the necessity of breaking the cotton away from the fabric being sewn is avoided.

Second, in combining an emery or other cushion with thc needle-threader, whereby the needle-threader is made more useful, it answering both for threading and also sharpening or improving the points of needles.

Third, in the combination of an emery-cushion with a nedle-threader and a stiletto, whereby a threefold ndice is performed by the one implement, viz, threading needles, and sharpening their points, and perforating fabrics which require to be eyeleted.

In the accompanying drawings- A represents a plate, similar in form to the wellknown horse-shoe magnet. This plate is cut or stamped from untempercd cast-steel by means of a die, or it may be made from round steel wire, before it is ternpered, the wire being cut into proper lengths, bent, and its ends swa-ged down, so as to give the 'desired width and flat surface for the formation of the groove or grooves, and the threading-hole or holes, or it may be made by recasting cast-steel, or in any of the wellknown ways of working out similar-shaped pieces of metal, and its form may be varied in any waywhich Willpnot interfere with its answering the purpose intended,

The shape of the plate, and its magnetic character, are not the things sought to be protected under this patent, as my former patent covers a magnetized needle-threader.

The plate A may have one or more open grooves, a a, formed in the upper surface of its arms, as shown, said grooves extending entirely across one arm, and only partly across the other.

At the termination of those grooves which do not extend entirely across one of the arms, holes, b b, are drilled through this arm, so as to be intersected by the grooves. 'lhe holes are of funnel-shape, as represented.

I have shown two grooves and two funnel-shaped holes, but I think one grooveof a V-shape, would answer for different sizes of needles, and therefore I may make the threaders with only one groove and one funnel-shaped hole.

In making the horse-shoe-magnet threaders, the grooves may be dispensed with entirely on one of the arms, but I prefer to have grooves on both arms.

The plate, before being tempered, is finished as just described, and after being finished, is temperedalong its whole length, or from the ends of the arms to a point beyond the grooves and threading-holes The tempered portion is then magnetized in any of the well-known waysof magnetizing metals.

As an'improvement in the `threader itself, I saw, or

cut, or otherwise make, one or more open slots, c, in the outer edge of one lof the arms of the horse-shoemagnet plate, such slots or kerfs intersecting the funnel-shaped threading-holes.

This construction allows the thread, after .it has been passed through the eye of the needle, to be passed laterally from the funnel-shaped holes b b If there are two threading-holes, there, of course, .will be two kerfs, or slots, as each threading-hole is furnished with a slot, or kerf.

In the drawings, I have shown two threading-holes and only one kerf, as I deem one kerf, or slot, sufficient to illustratemy invention.

B is an emery-cnshion, made of proper shape to be introduced between the arms of the magnet-plate, as shown. It is confined in place by grooving it, and wedging it in between the arms, so as to bear against the curved part of the plate, and retained rmly in place by the application of glue, or other fastening.

In grooving the cushion, I compress the emery very compactly by pliers ortweezers, and thus, when the cushion is in place, it is sustained by the upper and lower surfaces ofthe arms, and its form is soliddy retained.

C is the stiletto, with its attaching end slotted or birfurcated, to admit the curved portion of the threader, so that thetwo parts may be fastened together by glue, 'or rivet, or Iinfany practical manner. The style and shape of this stiletto may bein accordance with the 2. The cushion B, in combination With a. needle fancy of the trade, and it may be either of wood,bone, threader A, substantially as described. ivory, or metal. 3. The combination of the emery-cushion B with By Figures 8 and 9, I intend to show how the neethe needle-threader A and stiletto C, substantially as dle-threader may be made by bending round Wire into' described. l horse-shoe form, and ztttening down the middle and OLIVER COX. end portions Iof said wire.

YVVhzit I claim as my invention, and desire to secure WIJDGSSBS: by Letters Patent, is J. N. CAMPBELL, The slot 0, intersecting the Vthreading-eye b ofVV Y E. ANDERSON. the needle-threader, for the purpose described. 

